Snohomish County leaders wrote an open letter over the weekend urging Boeing and Machinists back to negotiations, in hopes of saving assembly of the 777X for Boeing’s Everett site.

The letter was written by the mayors of nine Snohomish County cities and towns, Snohomish County Executive John Lovick, and Troy McClelland, CEO of Economic Alliance Snohomish County.

“It would be a tragedy to lose this institution, or see its presence in our state greatly diminished,” the letter said about Boeing’s role in Snohomish County.

The letter published in the Everett Herald Friday, and then shared with Puget Sound Business Journal Monday.

A Nov. 13 vote by Machinists District 751 turned down down a contract extension through 2024, which Boeing leaders said was needed to keep assembly of Boeing’s 777X in Washington.

While that offer was termed a continuation of the current contract by Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner, it contained several rollbacks including the end of pensions for new hires, and a much-slower ladder to top pay.

In conversations with Machinists, many say they might be willing to approve a contract that actually was a continuation of the present one. But most of those interviewed bristled at approving a contract that seems a significant step backward, especially when the company has a huge order backlog and its top executives are receiving generous compensation and retirement packages.

The fact that Snohomish County officials resorted to an open letter suggests that much-rumored attempts at behind-the-scenes pressure, or negotiations, haven’t gained much traction.

“Neither side has approached to restart any talks with the other since the day of the vote," he said, "and right now we’re focused on the site selection process."

Conner has specifically said Boeing didn’t plan to restart talks with the union after the Nov. 13 vote.

Since then, about 15 cities across the country have been quickly putting together proposals to seek the new plant.

The writers of the Snohomish County letter, led by Everett Mayor Ray Stephenson, seem to be trying to impress upon leaders of Boeing, and the Machinists, how much loss of the 777X would damage the region’s economy.

“Forecasts show that in five short years, we could see a loss of 10,000 machinists and 30,000 indirect jobs,” the letter says. “Losing out on the 777X will have adverse ripple effects that will extend far beyond the aerospace industry. Communities across the state would see significant drops in revenue and service, as well as lost charitable contributions from Boeing and its employees and fewer career opportunities for future workers."

The letter also seems to be an effort to persuade Boeing that it’s running a risk of encountering production problems with the stretched, re-winged and re-engined 777X aircraft, if it doesn’t stick with the established work force that's already building the 777 in Everett.

“We urge the Machinists and the Boeing Co. to seize this opportunity to move forward with the most knowledgeable and experienced workforce the company has,” the letter said. “Let the sharp minds and skilled hands that create and assemble the world’s premier airplanes come back to the table and craft a solution that keeps Boeing jobs where they belong.”

Steve Wilhelm covers manufacturing, aerospace and trade for the Puget Sound Business Journal.

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